Affordable Housing Scheme As a result of a Housing Needs Survey, Bridge Parish Council has for some time been trying to get Affordable Housing for the village. The price of houses in the village has meant that young people, and some older ones, have been unable to stay in the village in which they were brought up or where there are family connections, or return to it. The Parish Council’s aims have been frustrated by a very small group who have instigated various initiatives to delay the planning process. Canterbury City Council gave Planning permission in April this year. These opponents then requested permission from the High Court for permission to apply to judicially review this decision. The High Court refused this application on 23rd September. The Parish Council were then notified on 12th October of a renewal of this request. The Parish Council deplores this action and regrets the possible delay to the long-standing plans for Affordable Housing in Bridge. John Hill, Vice - Chairman Santa’s Helpers The Christmas trees in the High Street will be going up on 4th December and coming down on 3rd January. Please come to the Village Hall at 9.30 am and help with the work involved in putting up and taking down 70 trees and their lights. It’s good fun! To Market, to Market .. There is to be a Farmers Market in the Red Lion pub garden starting on 13th November and every 2nd and 4th Saturday in the month thereafter (but not on 25th December!). It is planned to have 10 stalls on the first week with an increasing number in the future. The venture is a non-profit making organization and is a formally constituted community group. Village Favourite This year’s 10th annual Exhibition was another great success, with 192 exhibits of a very high standard. Entries included drawings, paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures and a variety of craftwork. A quarter of the artists were children. Two thirds of the exhibits were for sale. Bridge School and the Village Hall Play Group provided hanging banners. War Relic with White Hunter – Barry Kirk The exhibition took place in Bridge Village Hall on Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd October with a lively soiree on the Saturday evening when music was played by Mike West and his Jazz Ensemble. Visitors were invited to choose their favourite exhibit. The picture “War Relic with White Hunter” by Barry Kirk took pride of place. Full results and further pictures may be found on the village web site and at www.artinbridge.org.uk Cutbacks We’re looking for cutbacks - to your hedges and shrubs that encroach on to the pavement. There are many places where pedestrians are forced into single file or even off the pavement and have to face thorns and prickles and after rain a horrible wet surprise, especially in the dark! Please cut the growth well back and check on it regularly throughout the growing season. Thank you. Workers Party There will be a working party on the Recreation Ground to plant trees and get ready for winter, starting at 9.30 am Saturday 6th November. Barbara Beinder will be in charge of the programme, that will include the replacement of three dead trees, hedge cutting, clearing of flower borders and anything else that springs to mind on the day! Please come and help - if you have any tools that might prove useful, do bring them along. Have fun, get fit If you’ve not yet discovered the new adult fitness equipment on the Recreation Ground, do go and try them out. There are four different pieces designed to give you exercise by twisting, swinging etc.. Have fun. You can take the children to the playground and supervise them whilst you get fit. Dates for your Diary: 6th November - Recreation Ground working party 11th November - Parish Council meeting 13th November - Farmer’s market 27th November - Farmer’s market 4th December - Xmas trees go up 9th December - Parish Council meeting 11th December - Farmer’s market 3rd January - Xmas trees come down To contact the Council Please write, telephone or email the Parish Clerk: Christobel Seath, Bridgeford House, Brewery Lane, Bridge, CT4 5LF, tel: 01227 831085 email: clerk@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge Parish Councillors Ann Edmonds Chairman, Affordable Housing, Footpaths, Parish Forum 01227 830795 ann@bridgevillage.org.uk John Hill Vice-Chairman, Planning, Rural Area Member Panel, Affordable Housing 01227 830215 johnh@bridgevillage.org.uk Colin Beesty Recreation Ground, Mill Centre, BVST 07989 495202 colin@bridgevillage.org.uk Barbara Beinder Village Hall, Recreation Ground, Bridge School 01227 830514 barbara@bridgevillage.org.uk John Corfield Recreation Ground, Newsletter 01227 830976 johnc@bridgevillage.org.uk Mark Esdale Affordable Housing, Village Hall, Mill Centre, Police Forum 01227 832740 mark@bridgevillage.org.uk Mervyn Gulvin Recreation Ground, Mill Centre, BVST, Allotment Association, Nailbourne Group 01227 830881 mervyn@bridgevillage.org.uk Selwyn Lewis Planning Committee, Trees, Police Forum 01227 830186 selwyn@bridgevillage.org.uk Terry Wilmshurst Planning Committee, KAPC 01227 830310 terry@bridgevillage.org.uk Bridge village web site Visit the web site for village news, information, agendas & minutes of Council and Planning meetings www.bridgevillage.org.uk BRIDGE Parish Council Caring for the village Autumn 2010 Newsletter Included in this issue: Farmer’s market Christmas Trees Affordable Housing Adult Exercise Equipment Overhanging hedges & shrubs Recreation ground working party Art in Bridge exhibition Next Parish Council meeting 7.15 pm Planning Committee 7.30 pm Full Council Thursday 11th November 2010 Bridge Village Hall - all welcome